Chapter 46

The rug beside the bed and Shi Chengyu’s shoes were covered in what Shen Chutang had just vomited.

Shi Chengyu took off his shoes and had someone bring a new blanket to wrap her in. He carried her out barefoot, walking in circles in the living room on the top floor, patting her back as he walked. Her breathing was heavy and hot, her breath blowing on his ear.

He was filled with guilt and heartache, wishing it was him who was sick instead. After walking for over an hour, he finally coaxed her to sleep.

The fever hadn’t subsided. Shi Chengyu carried her back to his guest room in the Shen family’s house, held her in his arms, and took one of Shen Chutang’s arms for the doctor to give her an injection.

Shen Chutang was asleep, but he still whispered to her, “Good girl, Tangtang…good girl, Tangtang…” calling her name over and over, afraid that the pain would wake her up.

Shi Chengyu sat by the bed, sometimes touching her forehead, sometimes touching her cheek. One hand held Shen Chutang’s hand. The needle was stuck in the back of her hand, with a white adhesive bandage on top. Her hand was so small, usually cool, but now it was hot, while his hand was ice-cold. From the moment he knew Shen Chutang was sick, he had been ice-cold all over, and it hadn’t warmed up yet.

After two bags of IV fluid, Shen Chutang’s temperature finally went down a bit. Shi Chengyu tucked the blanket around her, asked the maid to stay by her side, and then left.

As soon as the door closed, Shi Chengyu’s aura instantly changed. He asked Uncle Wen to call all the maids on the fifth floor.

Shi Chengyu sat on the sofa in the living room, raised his hand, and smashed a teacup on the ground, “Uncle Wen, replace all the maids on the fifth floor.”

Since Uncle Wen started working for the Shen family, he had never seen Shi Chengyu lose his temper like this. His eyes were devoid of warmth, chillingly cold.

“Yes, Mr. Shi.”

Lin Shulang was startled, but he was also instantly grateful for the choice he had made that morning. Miss Shen came first, and the weight of those words had never been lighter.

Shen Chutang had been burning with fever all night before anyone noticed. If this had happened at the Shi family’s house, it would never have happened. When Shi Chengyu was home, he would wake up several times a night to check on Shen Chutang. When he wasn’t home, the maids would stay at the door all night. How could they have let her burn like this before noticing, letting her suffer so much?

“Chengyu, how is Tangtang?” Shen Yanheng rushed over as soon as he got off work at noon. As soon as he entered the door, he heard the sound of the teacup shattering on the ground.

Shi Chengyu stood up from the chair, “She just got her medicine. She’s sleeping now.”

Shen Yanheng nodded slightly, “Control your temper.”

He had never seen Shi Chengyu lose his temper like this, not even when he was angry.

“I’ll go check on Tangtang.”

Shen Yanheng went upstairs and took a look from the doorway, but he didn’t go in. Zhao Wenxian was pregnant now, so he had to be careful.

Shi Chengyu scolded the maids, and Shen Yanheng scolded Shen Sichen and Shen Sujing upstairs. His aura was even bigger than Shi Chengyu’s just now. If Uncle Wen hadn’t stopped him, he would have used corporal punishment.

No one had eaten since morning. The kitchen had prepared a meal, but no one was in the mood to eat. Shi Chengyu ate a few bites hastily and went upstairs.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw Shen Chutang raise her hand. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she struggled to sit up from the bed and try to get out.

Shi Chengyu quickly went over and held her hand, “Good girl, Tangtang, don’t move.”

Shen Chutang leaned against him, ignoring his objections, reached out to hug his waist, and said in a hoarse voice, “I’m the patient…”

Ever since she was a child, whenever Shen Chutang was sick, whatever she asked for would be granted.

Now, even a hug required her to say this. Shi Chengyu felt heartache. He patted her back, her bony spine felt rough under his hand, “Okay, Tangtang, you can do whatever you want.”

“Can you eat something?”

Shen Chutang thought for a while, then slowly shook her head.

“Then drink some water.”

Shen Chutang still shook her head. Her head was dizzy, and her reaction was slow. She remembered being tricked into taking medicine in the morning, and she pretended not to hear him, leaning against him.

“Good girl, just a little bit.”

There was a straw in the cup. Shen Chutang seemed to think for a moment before putting the straw in her mouth, taking a sip and then resting.

She finished the whole glass of water and leaned back against Shi Chengyu again. Shen Sichen and the others heard that she was awake and went upstairs.

Shen Chutang didn’t have her usual energy. She was like a wilted eggplant, weak and listless, her eyes lacking their usual sparkle.

When she saw Shen Sichen and the others, she just looked at them blankly. Shen Sichen walked over and touched her head, “Tangtang, why are you so silly?”

Shen Chutang froze for a moment, then hid in Shi Chengyu’s arms, clutching his clothes.

Shen Sichen and the others felt heartache, especially Shen Sujing. He had been filled with self-blame and regret all morning. His own brother hadn’t taken care of her as well as Shi Chengyu. He usually didn’t say anything, but he felt guilty that he hadn’t noticed Tangtang was sick.

The maid brought more food. Shen Chutang was surprisingly well-behaved this time. She ate when Shi Chengyu told her to, chewing slowly, very slowly.

After feeding her, Shi Chengyu hugged her, resting her head firmly on his shoulder, gently patting her back, “Good girl, Tangtang, don’t vomit, okay?”

He asked, but it was also like he was afraid, begging, praying.

After a while, Shen Chutang nodded slightly, leaning against his shoulder, closing her eyes.

The person in his arms fell asleep again, obediently not vomiting. Shi Chengyu felt a little reassured, putting her back in bed.

All night, Shen Chutang’s fever went up and down, up and down, until the next morning, it finally stabilized, but she still had a low fever.

Shen Yanheng went to see Shen Chutang again before going to work the next morning. He was surprised to see Shi Chengyu guarding by the bed. He knocked on the door.

Shi Chengyu turned his head, still holding Shen Chutang’s hand, “Big Brother.”

“How is Tangtang?”

Shi Chengyu took the thermometer and checked her temperature again, “37.5℃, she still has a bit of a fever. She should be fine after another day of IV fluids.”

“Okay, have Sicheng and the others watch her later. You go and rest.”

Shi Chengyu nodded softly, then looked at Shen Chutang on the bed, rubbing the back of her hand. She had an IV needle in her hand because she had to get IV fluids for several days. The thin tube had a bit of blood in it, red and a bit dazzling. The skin around it was bruised and swollen.

Shen Yanheng saw that he only agreed but didn’t move. He didn’t persuade him anymore. He sighed and went downstairs.

Shen Chutang woke up once in the morning. She was as obedient as a wooden doll, leaning against Shi Chengyu’s arms. When the hospital staff came to draw blood, she didn’t seem afraid at all. She just stared blankly.

Shi Chengyu pressed her head against his chest, not letting her see, “It’s okay, Tangtang. It will be over soon.”

But Shen Chutang didn’t react. She fell asleep in his arms, or perhaps she fainted from weakness.

This state continued until the afternoon. Shi Chengyu had forgotten what the doctor said about what she could and couldn’t eat. He would be grateful if she could just eat one more bite.

He fed her ice cream, spoon by spoon, then wiped the corner of her lips. Suddenly, he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Shen Chutang reacted after a long time. She felt it was too close, then slowly said three words, “It’s contagious.”

Shi Chengyu hugged her and said softly, without beginning or end, “Okay.”

He said okay. If getting infected could make her better, he would be happy to.